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ROTARY CLUB OF SASKATOON November 9, 2021 Hybrid Meeting at Saskatoon Club with a Zoom Option We sang ‘O’ Canada and Maureen Torr gave the Blessing. President Mark Gryba chaired our meeting. Jack Brodsky briefly introduced our one guest, presenter, Eva Vida and visiting Rotarians, Brenda Banbury and Earl Newton from the North Club. HAPPY AND SAD DOLLARS: - $10.00 Tammy is happy that she can travel to see her Mum and her daughter in person after two years.
- $10.00 Avis is sad that it is sixteen years since her sister died from cancer and she is happy that Joanne is doing well.
- $10.00 Maureen Torr is happy with the response at a meeting where funds were raised for Joy’s Home of Hope.
- $ 10.00 Brenda Banbury is just happy to see the faces of fellow Rotarians.
- $10.00 Mark is happy with the performance of the Saskatoon Hilltops, who won their first fall playoff game.
- $100.00 Graham Pearson is happy with, among other things, that their new dog, Sunny, is slowly becoming house trained.
- $100.00 Gary Rusu for his receiving another Paul Harris Pin.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: President Mark first reminded us that the Saskatoon Club has a mandatory show of Covid vaccination record and masks only to be off while eating or social distancing. A reminder that to qualify for a Paul Harris pin you need to have $1,000.00 U.S. contributed cumulatively, which can be a combination of funds paid and Paul Harris points, which can be received from another member. Our own Jim Weber has graciously offered to provide points to anyone seeking their first Paul Harris award. We will serve at The Friendship Inn on November 15, 11:30 to 1:30. We have a good number attending but Gary Rusu will still collect more names for next week if you want to join us. We have new pins available with the Rotary Theme. Just ask Mark for one. Grocery Cards are available. Donna was present and would take orders. ROTARY MINUTE - Brenda Banbury presented a cheque, on behalf of the North Club, for $5,000.00 to the RAP Program, accepted by Jack Brodsky on behalf of the RAP Board. Pictures were taken. HEALTH OF THE CLUB - No report at this meeting. SPEAKER - EVA VIDA President Paul introduced our guest speaker, Eva Vida. Eva works with Sun Life and before that she was in the banking industry for 25 years. Eva is very active, including long distance cycling. She has completed the 170 km MS ride several times. She has been a Rotarian since 1992 and she is currently the Vice President of the Rotary Foundation of Canada. It is in that capacity that she gave her presentation. In 2017 the Rotary Foundation celebrated 100 years of its existence. Charity Navigator has given the fund its highest rating, 4 Stars. Ninety-one percent of the contributions go directly to projects and operations which is an industry leader. There are seven areas of focus: Peace and Conflict Disease Prevention Water Conservation and Access Maternal and Children Education and Literacy Community Development Environment Cumulatively $151 Million has been raised by Rotary for Polio Plus and that amount is matched by the Gates Foundation. Despite the Covid Pandemic the Global Grants awarded increased from 1359 in 2019-2020 to 2066 in 2020-2021. Disaster Relief dropped from $ 8.4 Million in 2019-2020, during the peak of Covid, to $ 3.1 Million in 2020-2021. Grants are not only international. In the last year $ 252,177.00 was awarded for purely Canadian projects. The motto for the Foundation is every Rotarian Every Year. Eva told us that $ 5.1 Million has been raised from just donations of $ 25.00 to $ 50.00. A sustaining member has contributed $ 100.00 U.S. for the year. $ 1,000.00 over time (not just in one year) results in the Paul Harris pin. Presentations in person were made to Gary Rusu (PHF + 5) and Mark Gryba (PHF +3), pinned by Steve Wilson, President-Elect, and virtually with Graham Pearson receiving PHF+1 and Darcelle Pearson receiving PHF (through points). Graham and Darcelle pinned each other. Eva continued her talk, pointing out that a contribution of $2,400.00 combined with grants and a government contribution resulted in the total raised to be $82,500.00, for Joy’s Home of Hope. Our own club during this Rotary year has raised $1,616.00 for the Foundation and $1,312.00 for Polio Plus. - reported by Steve Wilson Next meeting November 22, 2021. Elaine Zakreski will present an update on Hope for Malawi. The club will also take some time to discuss fundraising initiatives.
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